SOURCE: Livy, "Book XXXVIII," in Livy, Vol. XI, translated by Evan T. Sage, Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1965, pp. 217-400.

In the following excerpt Livy briefly summarizes Cato's reputation, commending him to the reader's highest admiration. Because the exact date of composition is not known, Livy's death date is used to date this essay.

[Among] all the patricians and plebeians of the most illustrious houses, Marcus Porcius Cato stood out most conspicuously. In this man there was such force of mind and character that in whatever station he had been born it seemed that he would have made his fortune for himself. No art of conducting either private or public business was lacking to him; he was equally skilled in affairs of the city and of the farm. Some men were advanced to the highest offices by knowledge of the law, others by eloquence, others by military reputation...